City of Dragons: Of Flesh and Blood (31 page)

Farley slapped at the shaft sticking out of his throat, but every time he got a grip on the thing it would flare, sending a surge through his body which felt like ice being dumped in his veins. The magic made short work of his resources and to keep from burning up he had to Shift.

Cursing himself for his own stupidity, Farley tried again to get the arrow out. In Human form it didn’t burn when he gripped it, but when he pulled the son-of-a-bitch out it felt like he’d ripped out his spine. Blood sprayed and Farley clamped a hand over the wound. Heat boiled under his palm as his body healed. Wailing sirens joined shouting voices. The Faerie dropped his bow and threw up his hands, and a Human hiding under the truck came out under the threat of being shot.

“In the truck!” Did they hear him? How could they over all the noise?

Everything moved in a series of fast-forward bursts. All the while Farley’s muscles hummed and twitched. It wasn’t a lack of fuel, but the afterburn of way too much, thanks to the loaded halvsie.

A wave of red hair swept near Farley’s face, and something touched his forehead. He flinched, expecting cold iron, but it was a hand. Farley’s night vision slid away and he tried to recognize the woman kneeling beside him.

She said, “Hey there, Farley.” A blanket landed across his body.

“T-Terry?” His eyes kept blinking like there was a short in his brain. She turned away for a minute and yelled something. When she came back her eyes were firm but worried.

But then Terry always did have a soft spot for dragons. She said, “Tell me how to help you.”

Farley amazed himself by being able to speak. “Just get me some place safe.”

The hot water came so fast and hard out of the showerhead Orin felt like he had his face under a geyser. And he still wanted it hotter. But that kind of heat would have melted the pipes.

He fumbled for the soap but only found the shampoo and emptied the entire thing over his head. Orin scrubbed it into his skin, trying to remove the stench of the day. Only, soap wasn’t going to remove this kind of foulness and he knew it. Deshi was right. He was an asshole.

An arrogant, self-centered asshole to be exact.

Orin leaned back and let the water slap him across the cheeks, twisted his head one way then the next. The roar of water rattled his skull so hard and loud he couldn’t hear himself breathe.

The Jersey City Prince was right about something else too. Orin was willing to throw Haley under the bus to get Rehbek’ah out of his life, but wouldn’t let her tend to him. Putting her in danger was unforgivable and yet he still didn’t know what else to do.

Haley didn’t deserve this, Orin knew that, but the fear of
Belonging
made it impossible for him to tell her to go home. Even with all his internal control, when it came right down to it he was helpless against Females. They all were.

Way too many Kin were like Deshi and failed to realize it.

Orin scrubbed himself until his skin ached. The worst of the damage the Athens PD did to him was gone. His right knee was still swollen and there was a nasty black bruise across the top of his foot, but eventually it would fade. If he’d let Haley
feed
him he would have been completely healed. Not to mention, he would feel better.

His breath came out in a shudder and water poured over him but did nothing to wash away the guilt. As much as Orin wanted to let Haley
feed
him, he couldn’t live with her knowing what he really was. It was just safer. At least that’s what he told himself. Maybe one day he’d actually believe it.

Orin was about to start another scrub down when the bathroom door flew open and the curtain was snatched off the rod. Deshi was as white as the marble.

He said, “Haley’s in trouble.”

Orin slapped the water off, grabbed a towel and threw it around himself. He followed Deshi to the other bedroom where Haley sat on the edge of the bed, with her head down and her right hand wrapped in a towel.

“What the hell happened?” As Orin crossed the room, he caught the glitter of glass all over the bathroom floor. “Deshi?” He looked at the Prince who was frozen in the door way. Orin stopped in front of Haley and knelt down. The white shirt she had on was soaked in green ichor and there was a streak on her face like she’d brushed her hand across her cheek without thinking. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted, and her breath went in and out so fast her bottom lip trembled. Orin lifted a hand to brush the hair back from her eyes but stopped as his instincts rang five alarm bells.

On a quick intake of air, Haley froze and her eyes peeled wide. “Hello, Orin.” A smile spread over her face. It was her mouth, her eyes, but what Orin saw was Medan.

His hearts jackhammered against his ribs and he stumbled back. “Christ!”

Medan rolled her eyes. “Please, Orin. Do not insult me.”

“Haley?” He said her name because he hoped she was still in there.

A frightened mask wavered across the cruel expression. “I can’t make her leave.”

“That’s because she needs to
feed
.” Haley’s eyes and the Queen’s gaze moved over Orin’s body, hitting every nasty scar and black bruise visible. “You shouldn’t have denied her, Orin. The offer of a Female to share her blood.” She clicked her tongue. “I am so disappointed.”

He growled. “You know why I did it.”

Haley’s dark brown gaze bled to gold. “I do not care about your fears, Orin. I do not care about your feelings for Haley, Deshi, or any of the fucking Chetrah who walk on the face of this earth. What I care about is the survival of my own. Rehbek’ah is a direct threat to that. Her stupidity could cost us all dearly.

“In two days she will mature into a Queen and the remaining three stages of her RHage will rise. After that, stopping her will mean the destruction of this town and everyone in it. Athens will be nothing but a burned out crater.” And the tone of Medan’s voice said she was prepared to make it happen.

Orin’s legs folded. “What do you want?”

“What do I want?” He voice went high and took on a sing song lilt which could only mean very bad things. “Why, Orin, you’re the one who asked Haley to
help
you.” And when she said help, it felt like a blade to stab and twist with.

Yeah, he’d asked Haley to help and he’d even been willing to let her. But staring at Haley now and knowing he was looking at Medan, Orin was struck by his own horrible memories of the African Queen and being controlled like this. Forced to do things he didn’t want to do. God of Man, what was he thinking?

You weren’t thinking. That’s the problem.

“This was a mistake.” He blinked several times and scrubbed his face with his hands. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this. I’ll figure out another way.”

“You speak as if I am giving you a choice.” The Queen’s tone dropped twenty degrees. “Rehbek’ah’s stupidity cannot go unchecked. While you may like to imagine Haley is here because you asked her to be, she is here because I need her to protect you. The Queen of Athens wants to
own
you.”

“Yeah, I gathered that.”

“Which cannot be allowed.”

And Orin was so on board with that idea it wasn’t funny, until Medan smiled. Yeah, looking at her was like watching a freight train bearing down on his ass while tied to the tracks.

She purred and said, “I want to keep you safe, but to do that I need something from you.”

“What could I possibly have that you need?” After all, she was Female. And not just Female but a Queen.

Medan’s golden eyes flashed to black. “I want Serena’s
RHage
.”

“No.” Orin shook his head. “You said yourself that no Queen could hold it because it’s a first RHage.”

“Which is why Rehbek’ah wants to
own
you. She can use you to house it and call it out as she pleases.”

“And you think I want to
Belong
to you any more than I do her?”

Medan smirked. “I am not asking you to
Belong
. I am offering you complete freedom. I can free you from Serena’s RHage because I have somewhere else for it to go.”

Orin still didn’t believe her. It just wasn’t possible. Only a Female could control it and all Females were endowed with a first RHage
impressed
on them from their Queen! No Female could hold two, not even Medan. It would take a Female with no RHage, a Female never
impressed
.

Or at least never
impressed
by a Queen.

“You can’t be serious.” Orin tried to breathe but some asshole had just uncorked the planet and there wasn’t enough air left for him to fill his lungs. His hands shook, his entire body shook. He stared at Medan and wished with everything to wake up from this nightmare.

Medan’s lips parted, flashing tiger-sized fangs. “Oh, I am very serious.”

“You’ll kill her.” Orin tried to stand up but his legs wouldn’t work.

“She will not die.”

“How can you say that? Christ, Medan, we’re talking about Serena. It took three of you to kill that bitch. I know what this thing feels like. I’ve seen what it can do.” Hell, he’d been the channel for it when she used it to kill millions. “I won’t. I can’t--”
“You will.” Medan’s words were like ice.

“And you can’t make me.” God of Man, Orin was really asking for it.

An earth shaking growl lit up in Haley’s chest. “You are so very right. I cannot make you give it to me, but unless you give Haley the RHage she will die.”

Orin glared at her. “Why doesn’t it surprise me you’d reduce yourself to such petty BS? I won’t do what you say, so you’ll kill her to punish me.”

“Her death will not be on my hands. It will be Rehbek’ah.”

“Only if you send her in there and don’t help her.”

“If I send her in at all she will die. She has no RHage, and that means she has no defense against the RHage of others.”

“Is that why she almost lost it this morning?”

Medan turned Haley’s head to look at Deshi. “Yes. It was an unforeseeable accident.”

Orin said, “Deshi said what you left was only a sliver. If Haley lost it over a sliver then how the hell is she going to control the entire package? Not to mention we’re talking about Serena here.”

“Because the piece of RHage left in her was mine. The only reason Haley didn’t kill herself or the Chetrah she works for is because she is Female. Even then her resistance was limited. If Deshi had not been there, she would have killed Farley trying to give it to him.”

Funny thing was, Medan didn’t seem one bit broken up about that prospect. It would have killed Haley though. Farley wasn’t much but he was hers. So Deshi saved the day, huh? Orin glanced at the Prince. His eyes were on the floor. Yeah, well at least the Male was useful for something.

“There has to be another way,” Orin said.

“There is not. This is your purpose, Orin. Just as it is Haley’s purpose.”

Medan would have to put it like that, but then again as a Queen, a Male would have no other worth but to serve.

“We’re more than just instruments for your use.” Even though Orin meant it, he regretted saying it. The look on Haley’s face, the expression manufactured by Medan, made his insides curl.

“Yes, please…tell me about how you are worth so much more. Amuse me, Orin.”

“You know what I mean.” Damn it, the shakes were back, probably because she was leaking so much sunshine and happiness all over the room. A quick glance at Deshi told Orin he wasn’t faring much better. The Jersey City Prince looked like he was ready to puke in his expensive shoes.

Medan said, “I do not.”

Orin swallowed. “We’re more than sex and food, Medan. We’re people. We have lives.”

She cut him off. “Lives? You mean the pitiful existence where you try and cheat your biology by shooting up with lab-born concoctions so you don’t have to
feed
? Or perhaps Deshi has a life?” She looked at the Male and he flinched. “Ah, yes, Deshi. Married to a Human woman. As if cutting out your Nevus was not insult enough to your people, now you are reduced to
feeding
half-breeds and letting them fuck you for her personal entertainment. A disgrace if there ever was one. If you were my Son I would eat out your heart and leave the rest to rot.”

Orin stared at Deshi and tried to keep his jaw off the floor. Christ. Never in a million years would he have… He looked away. Otherwise he might do something stupid like try to apologize, or maybe go all out and actually feel sorry for the Prince.

Maybe he already did.

Medan said, “Give Haley the RHage.”

“I don’t want her to die.” And Orin was sure if he gave it to Haley that’s exactly what would happen. Serena wasn’t just powerful--she was evil. Everything she went near died. And she enjoyed every minute of it.

“I would not endanger Haley. She is too important for me to waste. Like you, she has a use. Therefore I allow her to live. The only reason either of you still breathe is because it is my will that you do so. When Rehbek’ah takes you--and she will take you--your usefulness will end.”

Orin said, “I’ll fight her.”

The Queen gave him a tired look. “Even if her First RHage was not Blood, you would not stand a chance. When her other three RHages mature, she will take you and nothing you do will stop her.”

Guilt, grief, fear, it all drove Orin forward. He curled in on himself because it felt like all his emotions were going to burst out of his chest. Medan was going to use Haley just like he’d been used by Serena. And Medan? A Queen with two first
RHages
? One of which was the most powerful force ever known in the history of the species? The ramifications were too frightening to even consider. Orin didn’t want this, and now there was nothing he could do to stop it.

No, Medan had her mind set. She would do this at any cost…any amount of death. And if he didn’t? Medan would make good on her vow and kill him and Haley.

Because a Queen’s promise is like the Universe.

Forever.

Orin brought his eyes up and something must have shown in his face because the Queen’s expression went dark. Very dark. Medan frowned.

“You owe me. One favor. Remember? One unquestioned favor.” Yeah, he had Medan’s attention now. Her eyes were blacker than the ace of spades.